Misconceptions
Author's Notes: Oh no. I had a little formatting problem with the last chapter.
Oops.
I guess I didn't notice it there.
Again I've tried to make this chapter longer than any of the others: let's see if I succeeded. Misconceptions is quite near to ending anyway, so I need to catch up before the 28th of August! Syaoran mentioned in one of the chapters that the wedding would be sometime in this month, so…
Summary: Sakura knows that she will do anything at all for love. She knows Syaoran would too. What she doesn't know is that Aunt Chiisana will too! Things seem to be alright for a while until another Misconception occurs…
Chapter Eleven: The Day Is Set
Syaoran woke up in a white room. At first he thought he had died and gone to heaven ("Hey, I have a new phone number and address.") but he changed his mind when he read the word 'Airport Clinic' on a metal title plate.
It was silent at first, except Meilin finally noticed that he had arisen. "What happened to you back there?" she said softly, concern filling both her voice and eyes. At this point Syaoran was sure that his family was waiting patiently outside for him to recover.
Immediately he jumped out from his hospital-style bed, covering his nose to combat the scent of medical supplies and isopropyl alcohol that invaded the air. There were three things he was worried about.
Syaoran's Short List of Worries
#1: Did we miss the plane flight?
There was a large clock above the nurse's counter that read 4:05. Their flight was at five o'clock. Relief rushed in that no one would blame him for a sure waste of money. Meilin saw this and showed him two of the tickets for reassurance.
#2: What the heck happened?
At this question a headache began to form. Steadying himself, he walked slowly back to the cot to sit down, where Meilin had pulled an extra chair to position herself by. "Sakura was in a helicopter somehow, then you…fainted?" his cousin offered, but he was still quite confused. He wasn't the type to lose consciousness just like that…right? Well, no…he could've.
#3: Where's Sakura?
"Where's Sakura!" he asked at the mention of her name. The last thing he had seen before blacking out was Sakura going smaller and smaller, and what was probably a whisper of something.
Goodbye.
"She left? With her Aunt Chiisana!" Syaoran added before the other began to speak. This left the girl puzzled.
"That was her aunt there? Aunt Chiisana? But doesn't that mean little?" Meilin inquired, more to herself than anything else. She caught herself wandering off though, and quickly blurted "Yes, she did."
( In Beijing )
Sakura followed half-heartedly after her cheerful relative. Chiisana Kinomoto didn't have a house in China's capital; rather, she had a mansion for the wealthy.
To think that her aunt was still single.
"Over here Sakura, is the third living room. The third in the second floor, that is." explained Aunt Chiisana, mumbling something about having the prince of England have tea with her here. Sakura made a mental note to ask Eriol if royalty did such things…
This went on for a while…kitchen here, bathroom there, gallery ahead, back to the library, outside is the garden, the bedrooms are inside…until about a full hour later. Aunt Chiisana still looked alright, but things were different for the tired, unhappy Card Captor.
The former went on to the rest of the unseen rooms, but put a watching, motherly glance at her niece. Things weren't going right, she could see.
( Half-way to Hong Kong )
"To Our Beloved Flyers: Please be informed that unfortunately there has been a delay at Kowloon International Airport. We will-" the announcement blared. Syaoran only momentarily removed his complementary earphones, then put them back on to listen to more alternative, angsty music.
Meilin was saying something in opinion to the latest developments, but he didn't care. He didn't even try to pretend he was listening; if he wasn't, then he wasn't.
It was 5:43 PM. Since it took four hours for their flight to get to their destination, they were to arrive at around 9:00 PM. All Syaoran knew was that there was going to be a little slip of the time, and nothing more than a little nuisance.
This was all inevitable anyway. He should have just requested to have an airborne wedding any, and it could have been over by now.
( In Beijing )
"Alright Sakura. You aren't paying much attention, are you?" gently accused the older woman, looking intently into dulled green eyes. Sakura just shook her head and glanced up.
She smiled transparently, and said that she was fine. It wasn't believable, as that bright grin never reached her eyes.
'I have a talented niece who knows how to act.' thought Chiisana.
The blatantly forced beam slowly returned to a frown as a wristwatch was given attention. 5:43 PM.
They went inside one of the largest rooms so far, and sat opposite each other on one large donut-like white sofa. The well-sized glass windows betrayed the presence of the sunset as the last rays were shedding thin warmth on the city. Lights were visibly popping up everywhere, resembling fireflies from such a high hill-top view.
"I know you have a problem Sakura. Let's solve it."
Silence.
Then a change of dark jade to bright emerald.
Really, Aunt Chiisana? read her gaze.
Really. said the other's.
( Still Beijing )
"So, who wants to get some food from the restaurants here before we resume the flight?" asked one of Syaoran's sisters.
The other two siblings were whispering to each other. "I can't believe it's tomorrow! August 28! Syaoran though…he seems distant."
"Leave him be. He'll get over it somehow."
"Perhaps we should call on Sakura. She is in the city, right?"
"We've got no time for that, I'm afraid."
Syaoran heard them, and was a little shocked at the information he had acquired. San Yu didn't say anything about it being tomorrow! Meilin appeared uncomfortable, and pushed her female cousins to the side to lecture them about keeping surprises.
He sighed incoherently. He wasn't what to be happy or sad about.
He loved Meilin, but he loved another more.
Three months was all it took? He had all the time in the world then, but now there wasn't enough to even step out of the airport grounds.
He sighed again.
Syaoran then occupied himself by observing all of the people coming and going, studying the different bags that they dragged behind them, seeing the varied expression on each unique character's face. He closed his eyes and began the listen instead…so many accents and speaking styles, yet basically all the same phrases.
"We'd like a flight to Russia, please."
"I'd like to book to Tokyo."
"Excuse me, can I have a ticket to South Korea?"
"What are your available seats on Flight 854?"
"May I ask when we will board?"
"Are there any to Hong Kong?"
He sighed again.
( Sakura and Chiisana )
"Alright Sakura, I'm sure we'll catch up to them!" Aunt Chiisana said, but Sakura was devastated. She had been elated about this new plan, yet sunk low once more when she realized she knew nothing about the upcoming wedding. There were no facts she could register; date, time, venue or even how a Chinese matrimony was held.
Well, that is, until something unraveled itself in her mind.
'Aunt Chiisana would know.'
( Syaoran )
The Li Family was lucky not to have to deal with all the exchanges that were common in traditional weddings. There were none of the Three Letters, as the two to-be-weds were from the same line. Score one.
Still, Syaoran himself was required to help out in the arrangements. The motif of the event was red and gold, and his attire was just that. Meilin was trying on her dress in the airport bathrooms, obviously too excited to wait.
He heard their flight being paged once more. Sighing again (like that was the only thing he could do) he walked towards the boarding gate.
( Sakura and Chiisana )
"I'm sorry, one of the cancelled seats has been retaken." apologized one of the ladies at the receiving counter. "Only one of you can get on the plane." There was a sympathetic expression upon her lightly cosmetic-done face, but nothing could persuade her to reconsider.
Sakura wasn't sure she would be able to handle such a big task. She didn't know much outside of basic Chinese, and neither was she familiar with the workings of the Middle Kingdom. It seemed impossible.
She was about to give up and keep her passport when her aunt intervened. "Miss, my niece here shall take the available seat." Sakura was bewildered.
"But Chiisana-chan, it'll be useless without you. I'm not familiar with Hong Kong or even Beijing, and I don't speak Chinese well." she reasoned, already taking out her tickets for reimbursement.
"Excuse me, but the plane is about to board." informed the woman.
However, Aunt Chiisana just smiled in her warm, welcoming way, and whispered in her ear;
"You can do many things for love. It'll guide you along the path you choose. Now, hurry!"
Sakura took the full purse that her relative gave her then ran, faster than she had ever done before. On the monitor the plane schedule of the flight to Hong Kong flashed departing.
( Syaoran )
All of the Li Family had already taken up their seats, some beginning to read the magazines and others picking up their audio for relaxation. While even more began to drift to sleep or converse lightly Syaoran was looking out the window into the landing area.
The plane was already moving at the starting pace it had before lift-off and the pilot had begun to recite his regular speech when there was a disturbance in the door.
Many of the crew members rushed to the entrance and exit, sincerely hoping that it wasn't a problem big enough to be worried about. In fact, it was.
Syaoran had already closed his eyes when there was the sound of heavy, sprinting footsteps and troubled breathing. Slightly annoyed, he opened his eyes.
'Sakura?'
Meanwhile, Sakura was sitting on a comfortable seat in the plane. She had a smile on her face and was very happy, and already started to read the provided materials when the captain took the microphone. The speakers were quite loud when they announced;
"Welcome to Flight 3824, bound for Okinawa, Japan. Beijing Time is now 6:56 PM while…"
Sakura Kinomoto could no longer stand to listen.
She was, after all, on a completely different flight.
